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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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01-10-2005 | Original Article

Oral contrast medium in PET/CT: should you or shouldn’t you?

Authors: Ashley M. Groves, Irfan Kayani, John C. Dickson, Caroline Townsend, Ian Croasdale, Rizwan Syed, Nagesh Nagabushan, Sharon F. Hain, Peter J. Ell, Jamshed B. Bomanji

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 10/2005

Abstract

Purpose

It has been suggested that the use of computed tomography (CT) positive contrast agents has led to attenuation-induced artefacts on ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) systems. Consequently, centres may withhold the use of such agents. Whilst there is theoretical evidence to support the aforementioned claim, the clinical relevance of the induced artefacts has not been widely established. Moreover, the potential benefits of bowel enhancement on PET/CT have yet to be formally evaluated. We therefore prospectively examined PET/CT studies to assess whether the use of oral contrast medium induces clinically relevant artefacts and whether the use of these agents is diagnostically helpful.

Methods

Over a 2-month period, ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT images were prospectively reviewed from 200 patients following Gastrografin administration 2 h prior to examination. Both a radiologist and a nuclear medicine physician reviewed the images for contrast medium-mediated clinically relevant artefacts. Artefacts were sought on the CT attenuation-corrected images and were compared with the appearance on non-attenuated-corrected images. The number of examinations in which the oral contrast aided image interpretation was also noted.

Results

There were no oral contrast medium-induced clinically significant artefacts. In 38 of the 200 patients, oral contrast aided image interpretation (owing to differentiation of mass/node from bowel, discrimination of intestinal wall from lumen or definition of the anatomy of a relevant site). In 33 of these 38 patients, the anatomical site of interest was the abdomen/pelvis.

Conclusion

The use of oral contrast medium in ¹⁸F-FDG PET studies should not be withheld as it improves image interpretation and does not produce clinically significant artefacts.

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Title: Oral contrast medium in PET/CT: should you or shouldn’t you?
Authors: Ashley M. Groves
Irfan Kayani
John C. Dickson
Caroline Townsend
Ian Croasdale
Rizwan Syed
Nagesh Nagabushan
Sharon F. Hain
Peter J. Ell
Jamshed B. Bomanji
Publication date: 01-10-2005
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 10/2005
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-005-1833-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Oral contrast medium in PET/CT: should you or shouldn’t you?

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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